Golf putters having centrally aligned hosels

ABSTRACT

Golf putters having centrally aligned hosels are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, a golf putter includes a head defining a surface for striking a golf ball. The putter also includes an elongated shaft having an axis spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane containing the striking surface. Further, the putter includes a hosel connected to an end of the shaft. The hosel is connected to a portion of the head substantially aligned with a center of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a golf putter. Particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to a golf putter having a hosel connected to a portion of the putter's head in substantial alignment with a center of a golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.

BACKGROUND

The popularity of the game of golf has increased substantially over the years. As with all games, players are eager to improve their performance, whether in comparison to a previous personal best or with other players. However, golf can be particularly difficult to play well. One area of golf that is particularly difficult is putting. As a result, many variations of golf putters have been developed for improving golf players' putting performance. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved putters for improving players' overall performance in the game of golf.

SUMMARY

Golf putters having centrally aligned hosels are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, a golf putter includes a head defining a surface for striking a golf ball. The putter also includes an elongated shaft having an axis spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane containing the striking surface. Further, the putter includes a hosel connected to an end of the shaft. The hosel is connected to a portion of the head substantially aligned with a center of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.

The golf putters disclosed herein can improve player performance by making the player feel that he or she is striking the ball's upper, rear quadrant with the hosel. Further, the golf putter described herein helps to improve golf player performance by encouraging the golfer to keep his or her head and body still during the putting motion. Further, players are encouraged by the design described herein to keep the putter head low during the initial (or take-away) putting motion. Players are also encouraged by the design described herein to keep his or her wrist at a proper angle for putting. The design also encourages a slight inside-to-inside putting motion and reduces the likelihood of deceleration of the putter head during putting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf putter in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bottom of the putter shown in FIG. 1 showing the putter head, hosel, and lower end of the shaft;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the putter head, hosel and lower end of the shaft shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the putter head and hosel shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf putter, generally designated 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. The putter 100 generally comprises a shaft 102, a hosel 104, and a putter head 106. The shaft 102, in the embodiment shown, is straight with a handle 108 and an end 110 that is connected to one end 112 of the hosel 104 at an angle. An opposing end 114 of the hosel 104 is connected to the putter head 106 at an angle. The shaft 102 can be made of metal, composite fibers, combinations thereof, or any other suitable material.

Referring also to FIGS. 2-4, the hosel 104 and the putter head 106 are shown enlarged. The hosel 104 can be made of metal, composite fibers, combinations thereof, or any other suitable material. The hosel 104 is substantially straight and forms an angle of about 30° with an extended axis 200 of the shaft 102. However, the formed angle may any other suitable angle. For example, the angle may be between about 25° and about 30°, or even in the range of between about 0° and about 90°. The hosel 104 extends from its connection to the shaft end 110 in a direction opposing a ball striking direction, which is generally indicated by direction arrow 202. Thus, the hosel 104 extends from its connection to the shaft end 110 towards a ball striking surface 204 of the putter head 106. In FIGS. 2-4, the striking surface 204 is shown in a position at which a golf ball (indicated by circular-shaped broken line) 205 is struck after generally moving in the direction of direction arrow 202. The head 106 is shown striking the ball 205 at the ball's equator E.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the shaft's extended axis 200 is spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane 206 containing the head's striking surface 204. The distance is between about 0.5 inches and about 0.75 inches. Alternatively, the distance can be any suitable distance, such as, for example, anywhere between about 0 inches and 3 inches. However, the shaft's extended axis 200 can be spaced from the plane 206 any suitable distance. The hosel 104 is connected to the head at a portion that is substantially in the plane 206.

The striking surface 204 is substantially flat. However, the striking surface may alternatively be any other suitable shape. In addition, the striking portion 204 may be of any suitable shape and size.

During normal use of the putter 100, the player should keep the bottom 212 of the head 104 slightly above the ground G in order to have a smooth swing. FIGS. 2 and 3 shows this spacing or gap. Golf balls are all substantially the same size. For example, golf ball diameters are typically about 1.68 inches (42 mm). The putter 100 may be used with any size golf ball. The head 106 is sized and shaped to provide a point of contact, if the putter is used correctly within the normal standards of using a putter.

The putter head 106 can be made of a suitable material such as brass, steel, or the like. However, any suitable material could be used. The putter head 106 may be formed of a heavier material than the material forming the shaft 102 and/or the hosel 104.

The putter head 106 has a main body 208 with a top 210, a bottom 212, a heel 214, a toe 216, and a rear end 218. In the embodiment shown, the main body 208 has a general block shape with smooth edges. However, the main body may have any suitable shape. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the hosel's end 114 is connected to a portion of the head 106 substantially aligned along a horizontal direction (indicated by opposing direction arrows 220) with a center of the head's striking surface 204. Further, an extended axis 222 of the hosel 104 also substantially aligns with the center of the head's striking surface 204. As a result of the alignments, the player feels that the ball 205 is the primary target, rather than the golf hole, when putting with the putter 100. Further, the alignments makes the player feel that he or she is striking the ball's upper, rear quadrant with the hosel 104. This also helps the player align a putt with the target hole.

Further, the golf putter described herein helps to improve golf player performance by encouraging the golfer to keep his or her head and body still during the putting motion. Further, players are encouraged by the design described herein to keep the putter head low during the initial (or take-away) putting motion. Players are also encouraged by the design described herein to keep his or her wrist at a proper angle for putting. The design also encourages a slight inside-to-inside putting motion and reduces the likelihood of deceleration of the putter head during putting.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the shaft 104 is shown extending from the end 114. The axis 200 of shaft 104 forms an angle B of about 10° with a line 400 that is normal to a striking surface 204. Alternatively, the angle B can be any other suitable angle, such as, for example, between about 0° and about 90°. However, the angle can be any other angle.

It is noted that there is a basic difference between an ordinary golf shot (with a drive or iron) and a golf putt. The two types of swings basically have inverse functions. An ordinary non-putting golf shot is intended to cause the golf ball to become airborne and, when the ball is struck properly, create a back spin and/or a side spin on the ball. A putting golf shot is intended to cause the golf ball to remain on the ground and roll smoothly with a top spin. The presently disclosed subject matter provides an improved putter adapted to cause the golf ball to remain on the ground and initially roll with a top spin.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims. 

1. A golf putter comprising: a head defining a surface for striking a golf ball; an elongated shaft having an axis spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane containing the striking surface; and a hosel connected to an end of the shaft, wherein the hosel is connected to a portion of the head substantially aligned with a center of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.
 2. The gold putter of claim 1, wherein the striking surface is substantially flat.
 3. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein the head is formed of heavier material than the material forming the hosel and the shaft.
 4. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein the hosel extends between the end of the shaft and the plane containing the striking surface.
 5. The golf putter of claim 4, wherein the hosel is connected to a portion of the head in the plane containing the striking surface.
 6. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the hosel inclines upwardly from the connection at the portion of the head towards the shaft.
 7. The golf putter of claim 6, wherein the shaft comprises a handle portion, and wherein the axis of the shaft inclines upwardly from the connection at the hosel towards the handle portion.
 8. The golf putter of claim 7, wherein the upward incline of the axis of the shaft is greater than the upward incline of the portion of the shaft.
 9. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein the hosel is substantially straight in shape.
 10. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein the hosel forms an angle of about 30° with an extended axis of the shaft.
 11. The golf putter of claim 1, wherein the shaft is positioned such that the axis extended intersects at least a portion of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball.
 12. A golf putter comprising: a head defining a substantially flat surface for striking a golf ball; an elongated shaft having an axis spaced forwardly a predetermined distance from a plane containing the striking surface; and a hosel being substantially straight and being connected to an end of the shaft, wherein the hosel is connected to a portion of the head substantially aligned with a center of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball, wherein a portion of the hosel inclines upwardly from the connection at the portion of the head towards the shaft, and wherein the axis of the shaft inclines upwardly from the connection at the hosel towards the handle portion.
 13. The gold putter of claim 12, wherein the striking surface is substantially flat.
 14. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the head is formed of heavier material than the material forming the hosel and the shaft.
 15. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the hosel extends between the end of the shaft and the plane containing the striking surface.
 16. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the hosel is connected to a portion of the head in the plane containing the striking surface.
 17. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the shaft comprises a handle portion, and wherein the axis of the shaft inclines upwardly from the connection at the hosel towards the handle portion.
 18. The golf putter of claim 17, wherein the upward incline of the axis of the shaft is greater than the upward incline of the portion of the shaft.
 19. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the hosel forms an angle of about 30° with an extended axis of the shaft.
 20. The golf putter of claim 12, wherein the shaft is positioned such that the axis extended intersects at least a portion of the golf ball when the head lies in striking position with respect to the golf ball. 